Handling a voice communication request

ABSTRACT

Apparatus comprises at least one processor and at least one memory, the at least one memory having stored therein computer-readable instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor: to detect the presence of a first identifier in an audio data portion received from a microphone; to identify a remote device based on the first identifier; to cause an audio data item to be transmitted to the remote device, the audio data item being for use by the remote device to alert a user of the device to the presence of an incoming voice communication request; and to cause a voice communication request to be transmitted to the remote device.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the handling of a voice communication request.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Communication devices such as mobile telephones provide alerts, such asringtones, to alert the user of the device to the arrival of an incomingcommunication. The user of the device is able to select which ringtoneis provided upon receipt of an incoming communication.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect, this specification describes apparatuscomprising at least one processor and at least one memory, the at leastone memory having stored therein computer-readable instructions which,when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least oneprocessor: to detect the presence of a first identifier in an audio dataportion received from a microphone; to identify a remote device based onthe first identifier; to cause an audio data item to be transmitted tothe remote device, the audio data item being for use by the remotedevice to alert a user of the device to the presence of an incomingvoice communication request; and to cause a voice communication requestto be transmitted to the remote device.

According to a second aspect, this specification describes apparatuscomprising at least one processor and at least one memory, the at leastone memory having stored therein computer-readable instructions which,when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least oneprocessor: to receive an indication of receipt of an audio data itemfrom a remote device; to receive an indication of receipt of a voicecommunication request from the remote device; to cause an audiblerepresentation of the audio data item to be provided to a user of theapparatus, via a loudspeaker associated with the apparatus, thereby toalert a user of the apparatus to the existence of the voicecommunication request.

According to a third aspect, this specification describes a methodcomprising: detecting the presence of a first identifier in an audiodata portion received from a microphone; identifying a remote devicebased on the first identifier; causing an audio data item to betransmitted to the remote device, the audio data item being for use bythe remote device to alert a user of the device to the presence of anincoming voice communication request; and causing a voice communicationrequest to be transmitted to the remote device.

According to a fourth aspect, this specification describes a methodcomprising: receiving an indication of receipt of an audio data itemfrom a remote device; receiving an indication of receipt of a voicecommunication request from the remote device; and causing an audiblerepresentation of the audio data item to be provided to a user, via aloudspeaker, thereby to alert the user to the existence of the voicecommunication request.

According to a fifth aspect, this specification describes anon-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereincomputer-readable code, which, when executed by computing apparatus,causes the computing apparatus: to detect the presence of a firstidentifier in an audio data portion received from a microphone; toidentify a remote device based on the first identifier; to cause anaudio data item to be transmitted to the remote device, the audio dataitem being for use by the remote device to alert a user of the device tothe presence of an incoming voice communication request; and to cause avoice communication request to be transmitted to the remote device.

According to a sixth aspect, this specification describes anon-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereincomputer-readable code, which, when executed by computing apparatus,causes the computing apparatus: to receive an indication of receipt ofan audio data item from a remote device; to receive an indication ofreceipt of a voice communication request from the remote device; and tocause an audible representation of the audio data item to be provided toa user of the apparatus, via a loudspeaker associated with theapparatus, thereby to alert a user of the apparatus to the existence ofthe voice communication request.

According to a seventh aspect, this specification describes apparatusconfigured to: to detect the presence of a first identifier in an audiodata portion received from a microphone; to identify a remote devicebased on the first identifier; to cause an audio data item to betransmitted to the remote device, the audio data item being for use bythe remote device to alert a user of the device to the presence of anincoming voice communication request; and to cause a voice communicationrequest to be transmitted to the remote device.

According to an eighth aspect, this specification describes apparatuscomprising: means for receiving an indication of receipt of an audiodata item from a remote device; means for receiving an indication ofreceipt of a voice communication request from the remote device; andmeans for causing an audible representation of the audio data item to beprovided to a user, via a loudspeaker, thereby to alert the user to theexistence of the voice communication request.

According to a ninth aspect, computer-readable instructions which, whenexecuted by computing apparatus, cause the computing apparatus toperform a method according to either of the third and fourth aspects.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

For a more complete understanding of example embodiments of the presentinvention, reference is now made to the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of apparatus according to exampleembodiments of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a system in which apparatusaccording to example embodiments of the invention may reside; and

FIGS. 3A to 3E are simplified illustrations depicting, in general terms,methods according example embodiments of the invention.

FIGS. 4 to 6 are flow diagrams illustrating, in more specific terms,methods according to example embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

In the description and drawings, like reference numerals refer to likeelements throughout.

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of apparatus 1 according to exampleembodiments of the invention.

The apparatus 1 comprises a loudspeaker 10. The loudspeaker 10 isoperable to convert electrical data signals into audible sound forconsumption by a user of the apparatus 1. The apparatus 1 also comprisesa microphone 12. The microphone 12 is operable to convert audible soundinto electrical data signals. The apparatus also comprises a transceiver14. The transceiver 14 is operable to send and receive signals from anetwork (not shown in FIG. 1). The transceiver 14 may comprise anycombination of different types of transceiver, transmitter or receiver.The transceiver 14 may be operable to communicate using any differenttype of communication protocol, for example GPRS, GSM, Bluetooth andinfrared etc.

The apparatus 1 comprises a controller 16. The apparatus also comprisesa memory 18. The controller is operable to cause data to be stored inthe memory 18. The controller is operable also to retrieve stored datafrom the memory 18.

The controller 16 is operable to control each of the loudspeaker 10, themicrophone 12 and the transceiver 14. As such, the controller 16 isoperable to provide data in the form of electrical signals to theloudspeaker 10, thereby to cause the loudspeaker 10 to provide audiblerepresentations of the data for consumption by the user. The data mayhave been received from the transceiver 14 or retrieved from the memory18. The controller 16 is operable also to cause the microphone 12 toconvert incoming audible sound into data in the form of electricsignals. The controller 16 is also operable to route the data to thetransceiver 14 to be sent via the network, or to the memory 18 forstorage.

The controller 16 may comprise one or more distinct entities. Thecontroller 16 comprises at least one processor 16A. The term processoris intended to encompass any suitable type of processor ormicroprocessor. The controller may also comprise one or more applicationspecific integrated circuits (not shown). The controller 16 is operableto control the other components under the control of computer readableinstructions 18A stored in the memory 18.

The memory 18 may comprise one or more distinct entities. The one ormore entities may comprise non-transitory computer-readable media. Theentities may be any combination of volatile or non-volatile media, suchas but not limited to ROM, RAM and EEPROM, PROM, EPROM, flash memory,DRAM etc.

The controller 16 is operable to perform actions in response to commandsreceived via the microphone 12. As such, the controller 16 is operableto analyse the data signals created by the microphone based on soundsreceived at the microphone 12, and is operable to perform actions basedon the results of the analysis. In particular, the controller 16 isoperable to recognise a data signal which results from a particular wordor phrase when it is spoken by the user into the microphone 12. In otherwords, the controller 16 is operable to analyse a portion of an incomingaudio data stream received from the microphone 18 to detect the presenceof a first identifier (e.g. a word or a phrase) therein.

According to some example embodiments, detection of the first identifiermay be performed using known voice recognition techniques to identifywords spoken by the user. For example, the user may speak the name of acontact, the details of which are stored in the memory 18 of theapparatus 1. The controller 16 may use voice recognition techniques toidentify the contact based on the data signal received from themicrophone 12. The controller 16 is operable subsequently to perform anaction in respect of that contact. In particular, the controller isoperable to cause a message to be sent to a device of the contact, basedon a telephone number or other type of device identifier stored in thememory 18. The controller 16 is operable also to cause a voicecommunication request to be sent to the device of the contact. Such arequest includes the controller 16 attempting to initiate a telephonecall with the device of the identified contact.

According to other example embodiments, a database of reference datasamples may be stored in the memory 18. Each reference data sample isassociated with a different contact, and may comprise the data resultingfrom a previous instance of the user speaking the name of the contactinto the microphone 12. Thus, when a data signal is received from themicrophone, the controller 16 is operable to compare the signal with thereference data samples stored in the database to identify a particularcontact.

Identifiers identifying contacts may be known as contact identifiers.The controller 16 may also be operable to recognise types of identifierother than contact identifiers. For example, in some exampleembodiments, the controller 16 is operable to recognise identifiersrelated to various commands. In particular, the controller 16 may beoperable to recognise a particular word or phrase, as being a command tobegin analysing the incoming data signal for an identifier associatedwith a contact. In this way, the user may speak a command, which isrecognised by the controller 16 as an indication that the user is aboutto speak the name of a contact with whom they want to initiate a voicecommunication.

It will be appreciated that the apparatus 1 may comprise othercomponents to those that have been described above. It will beappreciated also that the apparatus 1 may comprise one or more differentphysical entities. For example, the loudspeaker 10 and the microphone 12may be provided in a different physical entity than the transceiver 14,the controller 16 and the memory 18. In such an example, the loudspeaker10 and the microphone 12 may be provided in a personal headset, whichmay be in wired or wireless communication with the remainder of theapparatus, for example, via the transceiver 14.

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a system in which the apparatus 1of FIG. 1 may reside.

The system 2 of FIG. 2 comprises a first device 20, a second device 22and a network 24. Each of the first and second devices 20, 22 comprisean apparatus 1 as described with reference to FIG. 1. In the example ofFIG. 2, the first and second devices 20, 22 comprise mobile terminalswhich are operable to communicate with one another via the network 24.The network 24 may be operable to communicate with the devices 20, 22using any suitable type of protocol, including but not limited to GPRS,GSM, EDGE, CDMA and Internet Protocol. The network 24 is operable toroute signals received from the first device 20 to the second device 22and vice versa, thereby allowing the first and second devices 20, 22 tocommunicate with one another. The network 24 may include any number ofbase stations, servers etc.

Example embodiments of the invention will now be described in generalterms with reference to FIGS. 3A to 3E.

In FIG. 3A, the user 30 (in this example called Alan) of the firstdevice 20 speaks into the microphone 12 of the first device 20. Asmentioned above, the microphone 12 may be provided in the device or maybe provided in a separate entity such as a hands-free headset. In thisexample, Alan 30 speaks the phrase “Brian, are you there?”. Thecontroller 16 of the first device 20 recognises this phrase asindicating that Alan wishes to initiate communication with one of hiscontacts (in this example Brian). In other words, the controller 16analyses the signal received from the microphone and detects thepresence therein of an identifier which indicates that the Alan wishesto initiate a voice call with Brian 32. In addition to analysing theaudio data signal resulting from the spoken phrase, it is also stored inthe memory 18.

In response to this determination, the controller 16 retrieves a deviceidentifier from the memory 18. The device identifier associated with thesecond device 22, which in this example is associated with Brian 32,allows the second device to be contacted. In addition to retrieving thedevice identifier, the controller 16 also prepares a data packagecontaining the stored audio data signal. This data package may also bereferred to as an audio data item.

Next, as can be seen in FIG. 3B, the controller 16 causes the datapackage (or audio data item) 34 to be transmitted, via the transceiver14, from the first device 20 to the network 24 which routes it seconddevice 22. At substantially the same time, the controller 16 of thefirst device 20 attempts to initiate a voice communication with thesecond device 22. Put in other words, the controller 16 of the firstdevice sends a voice communication request 36, which is routed via thenetwork 24, to the second device 22. Both the audio data item 34 and thevoice communication request 36 are sent using the device identifierassociated with Brian 32. According to some example embodiments, theaudio data item 34 and the voice communication request 36 may be sent aspart of the same signal.

In FIG. 3C, having received the audio data item 34 and the voicecommunication request 36, the controller 16 of the second device 22causes an audible representation of the audio data signal contained inthe audio data item 34 to be output by the loudspeaker 10 of the seconddevice 22. This serves to alert Brian 32 (the user of the second device22) to the existence of the incoming voice communication request 36. Assuch, the audio data signal, which is a recording of Alan 30 speakingthe phrase “Brian, are you there?”, acts as a ringtone. As describedabove, the loudspeaker 10 and microphone 12 associated with the seconddevice 22 may be embodied in a hands-free headset which is in wired orwireless communication with the second device 22.

In FIG. 3D, Brian speaks a command into the microphone 12 of the seconddevice 22, which indicates that would like to accept the voicecommunication request 36. The controller 16 recognises this command,and, in response, accepts the incoming voice communication request 36.As such, as can be seen in FIG. 3E, a voice communication channel isestablished between the first and second devices 20, 22, therebyallowing Alan 30 and Brian 32 to speak to one another.

The above-described method provides a simple and intuitive system forbeginning a voice communication session between two devices at locationswhich are remote from one another. The provision of the audio datasignal (captured at the first device 20) as the ringtone to alert theuser of the second device to the existence of an incoming voicecommunication request gives the users the impression that there is apermanent communication link between the two devices. The method alsoallows the user 30 of the first device 20 to begin a conversation withthe user 32 of the second device 22 as they would if the two users werein the close physical proximity to one another and not at remotelocations. Thus, Alan speaks a greeting, for example, “Brian, are youthere?” or “Hello Brian” which is transmitted from Alan's device 20 toBrian's device 22 and is subsequently output by Brian's device 22. Brian32 simply accepts the incoming voice communication at his device and aconversation can be carried out. In this way, the above-described methodprovides an improved user experience for users of apparatuses anddevices operating according to example embodiments of the invention.Moreover, where a voice command is used by Brian 32 to accept therequest 36, a voice communication channel is established between the twodevices 20, 22 without either user 30, 32 being required to provideinputs physically (such as by pressing buttons, keys etc) to theirdevice.

FIGS. 4 to 6 are flow diagrams illustrating, in more specific terms,methods according to example embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating a method according to exampleembodiments of the invention. The method of FIG. 4 may be carried out bythe at least one processor 16A of the controller 16 of the first device20 under the control of the computer-readable instructions 18A stored inthe memory 18.

In step S4-1, the controller 16 causes an audio data stream, which isreceived from the microphone 12 to be stored in a buffer (not shown)which is part of the memory 18. The buffer is operable to store a finiteamount of data, for example equivalent to five seconds worth of an audiodata stream. Thus, the controller 16 causes the buffer to becontinuously updated to include a portion of the audio data stream whichwas most recently received from the microphone 12.

In addition to causing the audio data stream to be buffered, thecontroller 16 is operable to scan or analyse the incoming data stream soas to detect the presence of one or more identifiers within the audiostream. The identifiers may comprise, for example, a word or phrasewhich is recognisable by the controller 16. An identifier identifies atleast a contact, details for whom are stored in the memory 18. Thedetails may include a device identifier, which enables the first device20 to communicate with a device associated with the contact. Examples ofdevice identifiers include telephone numbers etc.

Next, in step S4-2, the controller determines if an identifier ispresent within the buffered audio data stream.

Identifiers may be recognised by the controller 16 using standard voicerecognition techniques, such as voice to text techniques. In suchexample embodiments, the controller 16 compares a text string (or dataindicative of such) which is produced using voice to text techniquesbased on at least a portion of the buffered audio data stream. If thetext string matches, or sufficiently matches, a text string associatedwith a contact (and, as will be understood from the below paragraphs,optionally also a command) stored in memory 18, the identifier isrecognised.

In other example embodiments, identifiers may be recognised by comparingportions of the audio data stream, which are stored in the buffer, withreference audio data samples stored in memory 18. The reference audiodata samples may be audio data signals from previous instances of theuser speaking the name of a contact (and, optionally, also a command).Reference audio data samples from previous instances of the userspeaking the name of a contact may be stored in the memory 18 inassociation with the contact to which the reference audio data sample isassociated. As such, the controller 16 detects that an identifier ispresent within an audio data stream when it is determined that asufficient level of identity exists between a portion of an audio datastream and a reference audio data sample.

In some example embodiments, detection of a single identifier, whichonly identifies a contact, may be sufficient for the controller toproceed to the next step (S4-3) in the method. For example, it may besufficient for a user to speak the name “Brian” into the loudspeaker.

In other example embodiments, two identifiers may be required to bedetected in the audio data portion for the method to proceed. Forexample, a first identifier may identify the contact and the secondidentifier, referred to above as the command, may indicate that the userwishes to initiate a voice communication session with that contact. Letus consider the example, “Brian, are you there?”. The controller 16 mayrecognise “Brian” as a first identifier which identifies a contact namedBrian. The controller 16 may also identify “are you there?” as a secondidentifier, which indicates that the user wishes to begin acommunication session with the contact identified by the firstidentifier.

The requirement for two identifiers to be present in an audio datastream in order for a voice communication to be initiated reduces thechance of proceeding to the next steps in the method, one of which isthe initiation of a voice communication session, accidentally. This maybe particularly useful when a hands-free headset is being used. This isbecause the user might say the name of a contact (for example when inconversation with a person in the same geographic location), e.g. whenreferring to that contact, without actually wanting to speak to thecontact. It is less likely however that the user will speak thecombination of first and second identifier (e.g. “Brian, are you there?)without wanting to initiate a voice communication session with thatcontact. It will be appreciated, that the same effect can be achieved byusing reference data samples which are phrases (e.g. “Brian, are youthere?”) instead of just single words (e.g. “Brian”).

If in step S4-2, the controller 16 determines that an identifier ispresent in the audio data stream, the method proceeds to step S4-3. If,in step S4-2, a device identifier is not detected, step S4-2 is repeateduntil it is determined that an identifier is present in the data stream.

In step S4-3, following detection of the identifier in the audio datastream, the controller 16 retrieves from memory the device identifierassociated with the identified contact (identified using the identifierpresent in the buffered audio stream).

In step S4-4, the controller 16 causes the portion of the data streamstored in the buffer which contains the identifier (or identifiers) tobe packaged into an audio data item 34.

Next, in step S4-5, the controller 16 causes the audio data item 34 tobe transmitted to a device (i.e. the second device 22) associated withidentified contact. The audio data item is transmitted based on aretrieved device identifier associated with the identified contact. Theaudio data item 34 is transmitted to the second device 22 for use by thesecond device 22 to alert the user 32 of the second device 22 to thepresence of an incoming voice communication request 36.

In step S4-6, the controller 16 causes a voice communication request 36to be transmitted, based on the device identifier, to the device (thesecond device 22) associated with the identified contact. A voicecommunication request may be sent, for example, by the controller 20causing a number associated with the remote device to be dialled.

Steps S4-5 and S4-6 are carried at substantially the same time. In someembodiments, the audio data item 34 is carried in the same signal as thevoice communication request 36. The order and the exact relative timingsof transmission of the audio data item 34 and the voice communicationrequest 36 may not be important as long as the audio data item 34arrives at the remote device 22 such that it can be used in providing anaudible alert for alerting the user 32 of the second device 22 to theexistence of the incoming voice communication request 36.

Next, in step S4-7, the controller 16 of the first device 20 determinesif the second device has accepted the voice communication request 36,thereby to allow a voice communication channel to be established betweenthe first and second device 22.

Following a negative determination (i.e. a determination that the seconddevice 22 has rejected the voice communication request), the methodends.

Following a determination that second device 22 has accepted the voicecommunication request, the method proceeds to step S4-8. In step 4-8,the controller 16 of the first device 20 establishes and maintains avoice communication channel between the first device 20 and the seconddevice 22.

Next in step S4-9, following an indication that the user of eitherdevice 20, 22 wishes to terminate the voice communication session, thecontroller 16 of the first device 20 ceases maintenance of the voicecommunication channel. Subsequent to this, the method ends.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method according to exampleembodiments of the invention. The method of FIG. 5 may be carried out bythe at least one processor 16A of the controller 16 of the second device22 under the control of the computer-readable instructions 18A stored inthe memory 18.

In step S5-1, the controller 16 receives an indication from thetransceiver 14 that the audio data item 34 (transmitted in step S4-5 ofFIG. 4) has been received at the second device 22 from the first device20.

In step S5-2, the controller 16 receives an indication that a voicecommunication request 36 has been received from the first device 20 atthe second device 22.

As will be understood from steps S4-5 and S4-6 of FIG. 4 describedabove, the order of steps S5-1 and S5-2 may not be important. In someembodiments, the audio data item 34 and the voice communication requestmay be received at substantially the same time. The audio data item 34may be carried in the same signal as the voice communication request 36.The exact relative timings of receipt of the audio data item 34 and thevoice communication request may not be important as long as the audiodata item arrives at the second device 22 such that it can be used inproviding an audible alert for alerting the user 32 of the second device22 to the existence of the incoming voice communication request 36.

The audio data item 34 and/or the voice communication request 36 mayinclude an indication that they relate to a single communication. Forexample, the audio data item may include an indication, such as a flag,that the controller 16 of the second device 22 should expect to receivea voice communication request 36 for which the audio data item 34 is tobe used in providing the alert to the user. Similarly, the communicationrequest 36 may include an indication, such as a flag, that an audio dataitem 34, which is to be used in providing the alert to the user, shouldbe expected to be received. In this way, the controller 16 of the seconddevice knows that the audio data item 34 and the voice communicationrequest 36 are linked and thus knows how they should be handled.

Next, in step S5-3, the controller 16 of the second device 22 determinesif the originator (i.e. the first device 20) of the audio data item 34and the voice communication request 36 is recognised. This may occur,for example, by comparing a calling number identification (CNID) elementthat is included in the signal or signals that transports the audio dataitem 34 and the voice communication request 36 with CNID elements storedin the memory 18 of the second device 22. Alternatively, recognition ofthe originator of the audio data item 34 and the voice communicationrequest 36 may be performed using any other suitable protocol.

If, in step S5-3, it is determined that the first device 20 is notrecognised, the method proceeds to step S5-4. In step S5-4, thecontroller 16 of the second device causes the user 32 to be alerted asto the receipt of the voice communication request, without using thereceived audio data item 34. This may be carried out, for example, usinga standard ringtone that is pre-stored in the memory 18 of the seconddevice 22. Following step S5-4, the method proceeds to step S5-6.

If, in step S5-3, it is determined that the first device 20 isrecognised, the controller 16 proceeds to step S5-5. In step S5-5, thecontroller 16 of the second device 22 causes an audible representationof the audio data stored within the audio data item 32 to be provided tothe user 32 via the loudspeaker 10. Thus, the user 32 of the seconddevice 22 is alerted to the existence of an incoming voice communicationrequest 36. As such, the user 32 may hear the phrase “Brian, are youthere” as spoken by the user of the first device 20. Following stepS5-5, the method proceeds to step S5-6.

It will be appreciated that step S5-3 may be optional and that themethod may instead proceed directly from step S5-2 to step S5-5.However, determination as to whether the originator of the audio dataitem 34 and voice communication request 36 is known may ensure thatrecordings of words and phrases spoken by strangers are notautomatically output via the loudspeaker 10 of the device 22. In someexample embodiments, the user 32 of the second device may have specifieda list of contacts, which is stored in memory 18, from whom receivedaudio data items 34 are to be used as the alert of an incoming voicecommunication request. In such embodiments, in step S5-3, the controllerdetermines whether the originator of the audio data item 34 and incomingvoice communication request 36 is on the specified list of contacts.

In some embodiments, the controller 16 of the second device 22 mayrespond to a user input by activating a mode in which a received audiodata item 34 is never used as an alert, regardless of the originatordevice. When in this mode, the controller 16 may proceed directly fromstep S5-2 to step S5-4.

In step S5-6, the controller 16 receives an input from the user 32. Theinput may be a voice input recognised using similar techniques to thosedescribed above with reference to step S4-2 of FIG. 4. For example, theuser 32 of the second device 22 may speak into the microphone “Yes” or“No”. It will be appreciated that any suitable phrase or word may beused as a voice input. According to alternative embodiments, the commandmay be provided to the device via another user interface such as, butnot limited to, a mechanical key, a touchpad or a touchscreen.

In step S5-7, the controller 16 determines based on the receivedcommand, whether or not the voice communication request 36 is to beaccepted. Thus, the controller 16 determines whether the received inputis indicative of the user 32 wishing to accept or decline the voicecommunication request. In embodiments in which voice inputs are used,the word “Yes” may indicate acceptance of the request 36 and “No” mayindicate refusal of the request 36.

In some example embodiments, audio data equivalent to a recording of thevoice command of the user of the second device 22 may be sent from thesecond device 22, under the control of the controller 16, to firstdevice 20. Upon receiving this audio data, the controller 16 of thefirst device causes the audio data to be output, via the loudspeaker 10,to the user of the first device 20. As such, the user of the firstdevice 20 would hear the user of the second device saying “Yes Alan, Iam here”. This may occur immediately prior, or subsequent, to the voicechannel being established between the two devices.

Following a positive determination in step S5-7, the method proceeds tostep S5-8 in which the controller 16 opens and maintains a voicecommunication channel with the first device.

Next in step S5-9, following an indication that the user of eitherdevice 20, 22 wishes to terminate the voice communication session, thecontroller 16 of the second device 22 ceases maintenance of the voicecommunication channel. Subsequent to this, the method ends.

Following a negative determination in step S5-7, the method proceeds tostep S5-10 in which the controller 16 rejects the voice communicationrequest. Subsequent to this, the method ends.

According to some example embodiments, the method of FIG. 5 may includea step wherein, subsequent to receiving the voice communication requestand/or the audio data item, the controller 16 automatically sets thedevice 22 into voice recognition mode. In voice recognition mode, thecontroller 22 is operable to detect voice commands received via themicrophone and to act accordingly. For example, the following activationof the voice recognition mode, the controller 16 is responsive toreceipt of the command from the user “Yes, I am here Alan” to cause thevoice communication channel to be established between the two devices20, 22. This optional step may occur, for example, immediately after anyone of steps S5-1 to S5-5.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating a method according to exampleembodiments of the invention. The method of FIG. 6 may be carried out bythe at least one processor 16A of the controller 16 of the first device20 under the control of the computer-readable instructions 18A stored inthe memory 18.

In step S6-1, the controller 16 receives a user input indicating to thecontroller that the user 30 of the first device 20 is about to provide avoice command identifying a contact with whom they wish to hold a voicecommunication session. In some example embodiments, the user input maycomprise a voice input. The voice input may comprise receipt, via themicrophone 12, of a particular word or phrase, for example, “Enter voicedialling mode”. In such embodiments, the controller 16 continuouslymonitors audio data received from the microphone 12. In other exampleembodiments, the user input may comprise a physical user input such as akey press etc.

Next, in step S6-2, in response to receipt of the user input in stepS6-1, the controller 16 begins to cause the audio data signal receivedfrom the microphone to be stored in the memory 18.

In step S6-3, the controller analyses the captured portion of audio datain order to detect the presence of at least one identifier. The at leastone identifier comprises an identifier identifying a contact stored inthe memory 18 of the device 20, and optionally an identifier indicatingthat the user wishes to establish a voice communication session with theidentified contact. In some embodiments it may be sufficient for theaudio data portion to include only one identifier identifying thecontact. Detection of the at least one identifier is performed asdescribed above with reference to step S4-2 of FIG. 4.

Subsequent to step S6-3, the method proceeds to step S6-4. Steps S6-4 toS6-10 of the method of FIG. 6 are the same as steps S4-3 to S4-9respectively of the method of FIG. 4. As such, further description ofthese steps is not included.

The method implemented by the controller 16 of the second device 22,such as the example embodiment described with reference to FIG. 6, maybe the same regardless of whether the methods of FIG. 4 or FIG. 6 areperformed by the controller 16 of the first device 20.

In the above described methods, the audio data signal that is includedin the audio data item 34 is the same as that used to initiate sendingof the voice communication request 36. However, according to somealternative example embodiments, the audio data that is sent in theaudio data item may be pre-stored in the memory in association with aparticular contact. As such, when the controller 16 detects the presenceof an identifier in an audio data stream, the controller 16 may retrievethe pre-stored audio data associated with the identified contact andpackage it as an audio data item for use, as an alert by, the device ofthe identified contact. In example embodiments in which the identifieris detected by comparing the audio data portion with a reference audiodata sample, the reference audio data sample may be packaged into theaudio data item and transmitted to the device of the identified contact.

It should be realized that the foregoing embodiments should not beconstrued as limiting. Other variations and modifications will beapparent to persons skilled in the art upon reading the presentapplication. Moreover, the disclosure of the present application shouldbe understood to include any novel features or any novel combination offeatures either explicitly or implicitly disclosed herein or anygeneralization thereof and during the prosecution of the presentapplication or of any application derived therefrom, new claims may beformulated to cover any such features and/or combination of suchfeatures.

1. Apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory,the at least one memory having stored therein computer-readableinstructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, causethe at least one processor: to detect the presence of a first identifierin an audio data portion received from a microphone; to identify aremote device based on the first identifier; to cause an audio data itemto be transmitted to the remote device, the audio data item being foruse by the remote device to alert a user of the device to the presenceof an incoming voice communication request; and to cause a voicecommunication request to be transmitted to the remote device.
 2. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the audio data item includes at least partof the audio data portion.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the audiodata portion is a portion of an audio data stream and wherein thecomputer-readable instructions, when executed by the at least oneprocessor, cause the at least one processor: to analyse the audio dataportion to detect the presence of the first identifier in responsereceiving a signal indicative of a user input.
 4. The apparatus of claim3, wherein the user input is a voice input.
 5. A system comprising: theapparatus of claim 1; and the remote device, the remote devicecomprising at least one processor and at least one memory, the at leastone memory having stored therein computer-readable instructions which,when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least oneprocessor: to cause an audible representation of the audio data item tobe provided to a user of the remote device, via a loudspeaker associatedwith the remote device, thereby to alert the user of the remote deviceto the existence of the voice communication request.
 6. The system ofclaim 5, wherein the computer-readable instructions stored in the atleast one memory of the remote device, when executed by the at least oneprocessor, cause the at least one processor: to receive an indication ofreceipt of the audio data item at the remote device; to receive anindication of receipt of the voice communication request at the remotedevice; to determine if the apparatus is known to the remote device; tocause the audible representation of the audio data item to be providedto the user of the remote device if the apparatus is known to the remotedevice; and to alert a user of the remote device to the existence of thevoice communication request using a pre-stored data item if theapparatus is not known to the remote device.
 7. The system of claim 5,wherein the computer-readable instructions stored in the at least onememory of the remote device, when executed by the at least oneprocessor, cause the at least one processor: to be responsive toreceipt, from the user of the remote device, of a voice command to allowa voice communication channel to be established between the remotedevice and the apparatus.
 8. Apparatus comprising at least one processorand at least one memory, the at least one memory having stored thereincomputer-readable instructions which, when executed by the at least oneprocessor, cause the at least one processor: to receive an indication ofreceipt of an audio data item from a remote device; to receive anindication of receipt of a voice communication request from the remotedevice; and to cause an audible representation of the audio data item tobe provided to a user of the apparatus, via a loudspeaker associatedwith the apparatus, thereby to alert a user of the apparatus to theexistence of the voice communication request.
 9. The apparatus of claim8, wherein the computer-readable instructions, when executed by the atleast one processor, cause the at least one processor: to determine ifthe remote device is known to the apparatus; to cause the audiblerepresentation of the audio data item to be provided to the user of theapparatus, if the remote device is known to the apparatus; and to causethe user of the apparatus to be alerted to the existence of the voicecommunication request using a pre-stored data item if the remote deviceis not known to the apparatus.
 10. The apparatus of claim 8 or claim 9,wherein the computer-readable instructions, when executed by the atleast one processor, cause the at least one processor: to be responsiveto receipt, from the user, of a voice command to allow a voicecommunication channel to be established between the remote device andthe apparatus.
 11. A method comprising: detecting the presence of afirst identifier in an audio data portion received from a microphone;identifying a remote device based on the first identifier; causing anaudio data item to be transmitted to the remote device, the audio dataitem being for use by the remote device to alert a user of the device tothe presence of an incoming voice communication request; and causing avoice communication request to be transmitted to the remote device. 12.The method of claim 11, wherein the audio data item includes at leastpart of the audio data portion.
 13. The method of claim 11, wherein theaudio data portion is a portion of an audio data stream and wherein themethod comprises: analysing the audio data portion to detect thepresence of the first identifier in response to receiving a signalindicative of a user input.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the userinput is a voice input.
 15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:receiving an indication of receipt of the audio data item at the remotedevice; receiving an indication of receipt of the voice communicationrequest at the remote device; and causing an audible representation ofthe audio data item to be provided to a user of the remote device, via aloudspeaker associated with the remote device, thereby to alert the userof the remote device to the existence of the voice communicationrequest.
 16. The method of claim 15 comprising: determining if apparatusfrom which the audio data item and voice communication request werereceived is known to the remote device; if the apparatus is known to theremote device, causing the audible representation of the audio data itemto be provided to the user of the remote device; and if the apparatus isnot known to the remote device, causing a user of the remote device tobe alerted to the existence of the voice communication request using apre-stored data item.
 17. The method of claim 15, comprising: respondingto receipt, from the user of the remote device, of a voice command byallowing a voice communication channel to be established between theremote device and the apparatus from which the audio data item and voicecommunication request were received.
 18. A method comprising: receivingan indication of receipt of an audio data item from a remote device;receiving an indication of receipt of a voice communication request fromthe remote device; and causing an audible representation of the audiodata item to be provided to a user, via a loudspeaker, thereby to alertthe user to the existence of the voice communication request.
 19. Themethod of claim 18, comprising: determining if the remote device isrecognised; if the remote device is recognised, causing the audiblerepresentation of the audio data item to be provided to the user; and ifthe remote device is not recognised, causing the user to be alerted tothe existence of the voice communication request using a pre-stored dataitem.
 20. The method of claim 18 comprising: responding to receipt fromthe user of a voice command to allow a voice communication channel to beestablished with the remote device.
 21. A non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium having stored therein computer-readablecode, which, when executed by computing apparatus, causes the computingapparatus: to detect the presence of a first identifier in an audio dataportion received from a microphone; to identify a remote device based onthe first identifier; to cause an audio data item to be transmitted tothe remote device, the audio data item being for use by the remotedevice to alert a user of the device to the presence of an incomingvoice communication request; and to cause a voice communication requestto be transmitted to the remote device.
 22. A non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium having stored therein computer-readablecode, which, when executed by computing apparatus, causes the computingapparatus: to receive an indication of receipt of an audio data itemfrom a remote device; to receive an indication of receipt of a voicecommunication request from the remote device; and to cause an audiblerepresentation of the audio data item to be provided to a user of theapparatus, via a loudspeaker associated with the apparatus, thereby toalert a user of the apparatus to the existence of the voicecommunication request. 23.-29. (canceled)